Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, February 8: Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Akhilesh Yadav has leveled serious allegations against the Election Commission, accusing it of manipulating Form 7 — used to object to voter inclusion or deletion — to affect his party's vote share. Yadav further alleged a 'collusion' between the BJP and the Election Commission, even suggesting that the poll body might as well "hoist the BJP’s flag."

In a statement made during a press conference, Yadav remarked, "In our previous conference, we questioned the use of Form 7. The government has now deployed agencies and professionals across cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and other locations, who are scrutinizing the full voter list to identify booths where the Samajwadi Party emerged victorious. Form 7 is being processed and printed at these locations, causing disturbances at many centers."

Yadav also claimed that the BJP had already manipulated the results of the Bihar elections using Special Intensive Revision (SIR) and was attempting to replicate the same strategy in West Bengal. He stated, "The state government and the Chief Minister in West Bengal have repeatedly pointed out that the Election Commission is acting as the BJP’s commission... It’s high time the Election Commission simply hoisted the BJP’s flag."

In response to these accusations, the Election Commission has extended the deadline for filing claims and objections in the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Uttar Pradesh. Originally slated to close on February 6, the deadline has now been extended until March 3, 2026. The decision follows a request from the state's Chief Electoral Officer to provide more time for citizens to submit their claims and objections. This extension allows for more time to verify voter details and ensures public participation in the process.

According to a letter from the Election Commission dated February 5, the extension was made following the publication of the draft electoral rolls on January 6, 2026. The Commission emphasized that the additional time would enable citizens to ensure the accuracy of their entries and raise any concerns regarding voter inclusion or exclusion.